Improvement in car-couplings



"l, B. SAFFORD.. VGuar-nuplings. n .U No. 146,714, Patentedlan.2o,1874.

UNITED STATES JAMES B. SAFFORD, OF ALBANY, NEV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,7 I4, dated January20, 18.74; application f iled March 3, 1873.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES B. SAFFORD, of the city and county of Albany,State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Buffers forRailroad-Cars 5 and l do hereby declare that the following is adescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective view of a buffer embodying the improvements in thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical view of the same with the upper draw-barremoved, illustrating the invention. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thesame when coupled together. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications of theimproved features in this invention.

My invention relates to the improvement of the face-plates ofrailroad-car buffers; and consists in constructing one or both of thelateral ends with an offsetting recess, back from a range with the upperand lower side pieces of the said face-plates, in .such a manner thatwhen a pair .of such face-plates are brought in contact face to face,that the said offsetting recesses will afford ample space for theinsertion of the hand to the coupling-link, to raise or guide the link(when the buffers are to be coupled) without endangering the hand sodirected and employed, the object of this invention being to shield thehand from liability of being injured by affording a space communieatin gwith the usual space for receiving the coupling-link, through which thehand may be inserted.

In the drawings, A represents the faceplate of the buffer. B B is thedraw-bar. c c are the coupling-pin holes. C is the coupling-pin. D isthe coupling-link--all of which are so Well known as to require nodescription.

It is well known that the common buer, consisting ot the face-plate anda draw-bar,is one ofthe oldest and simplest forms in use, and isgenerally reliable, when coupled, for resisting violent and continuousstrain, and their use by `railroad companies is very general on accountof its cheapness of construction and repairs, and their vgeneral usualadaptation to the unequal loadings and the varying heights of cars. Itisalso well known that by the use of this common buer many terribleaccidents have resulted, either from neglect of proper precaution, ormismanagement, or both, which have both destroyed life or have greatlyinjured and maimed the arms or hands.` `With these buffers it is almostgenerally` required, to properly connect them, to have a person to holdup one end of the coupling-link, and guide it into the end opening,receiving the same. This operation is always attended with great dangerto the hand and arm, and also to the person, and very many crushings ofthe hands and arms of persons so operating has resulted. To shield thehand of the operator, and to cause the buffer to act as a guard toprevent the hand being crushed when the coupling-link is being held andguided into the opening in the faceplate, I construct the face-plate Aintheir lateral ends a a with the back set-off recesses s s', which areset of toward the draw-bars B B, and from the relative set forward upperportions F F of the face-plate, which connect with the draw-bars B B.The said set-back recesses st are so formed as to constitute, withanother similar-constructed face-plate, the extensive lateral opening 0,Figs. 2, 3, and 4, sufficiently large to receive a large-sized handwithout being crushed or pressed upon by face plates. If desired, inlieu of such recesses s s', one of the lateral sides on each face-plate,(say the right-hand side,) may be cut out so as to leave a space, O',between the upper and lower portion F F, as in Fig. 5, which, cut out ofthe said side, will give permission for the hand to raise and guide thecoupling-link without the hand being endangered.

The manner in which the improvements in this invention operate to guardthe hand and and insure its safety when the buffers are to be coupled,is as follows: The link, supposed to be already secured in one of thebuffers, is taken in the hand by its loose end, and with the hand heldin the recess s and supporting the link, the person operating willsteady and guide the lilik in position, so that when 'the advancingbuffer approaches it will readily enter the mouth of the approachingbuffer. The projecting portions l? F of each face on coming in contactwith each other will operate as barriers, and, with the recesses s s,prevent crowding against the hand, and enable the operator to steady andguide the link in a proper manner.

rlhough these improvements are Very simple in their nature, yet they arethoroughly effective to preserve the hand of the Operator from beingsmashed in the dangerous operation Oi' coupling cars. Another advantageattending these improvements is that While they can be readilyT appliedto the railroad-cars7 their application will not revolutionize the Wholeconstruction of the buffer or their adjuncts, but the change from theOld Hat or slightly-curved face-plates can be effected with but littleexpense.

J. B. SAFFORD.

Witnesses:

CHAs. SELKIRK, GEO. A. THOMPSON.

